San Francisco at Buffalo Week 6 NFL Winning Predictions

Welcome back Collin Kaepernick, or maybe not. Like him or not, Kaepernick  will be gracing your TV screens this Sunday, and not because he will be protesting with the kneeling down and all during the national anthem, as he’s done since the preseason, but for real football reasons as a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Whether or not Kaep will be able to make a strong mark on the field against the Buffalo Bills remains to be seen, but it should sure be fun to watch the dual-threat try to resuscitate his once-upon-a-time glorious career, right? Whatever! Let’s get down to the real business and preview our way into the Niners at Bills NFL betting odds.

Analyzing The San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills Week 6 NFL Winning Predictions

Where: New Era Field, Buffalo When: Sunday, October 16, 1:00 PM ET TV: FOX NFL Lines: Buffalo (-8), OVER/UNDER 44.5    

Why Bet on San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are an entirely different team from the one that thrashed Buffalo 45-3 when these two teams last met in 2012, so don’t fool yourself into thinking such a miracle would happen this Sunday. And while you are it, don’t expect Kaepernick to be as efficient as he was when he led the 49ers to the Super Bowl four years ago. Still, Kaep has reportedly been doing well-enough in training and if that form can translate into positive output against the Bills, things shouldn’t be that bad for the Niners this Sunday. This should particularly be possible if San Francisco’s defense can play serviceably in the bid to stop Tyrod Taylor and gang.

Why Bet on Buffalo Bills

Now that’s Rex Ryan for you. After starting 0-2 on the season and looking doomed for another disappointing season, the Bills fired their offensive coach and have since won (and covered) three straight games, including a 30-19 win over the Rams last week. Both the offense and defense have been working side by side, making the Bills a very daunting team to face right now. More than that balance, Buffalo’s should get some help from the fact that they will be playing against a poor San Francisco team that can’t seem to get its act together on whichever side of the ball and is riding on a four-game losing skid.

Expert NFL Betting Predictions and Picks

This is a shot in the dark, but I’ll take it anyway. I fully agree that it would be ill-advised to trust Kaepernick after he underwent an offseason surgery and missed most of training camp with a fatigued throwing arm. But even in 2015, his worst career year, Kaepernick had a better passer rating and efficiency than Blaine Gabbert had from Week 1 to Week 5. More importantly, the out-of-favor San Fran quarterback is well-aware that his nationally-popular sideline protests have made him the center of attention; so many people will be watching him. That, along with the need to try and win back the starting QB job forever (or impress other suitors in the free agency) should give him a shot in the arm to give his very best. So while I wouldn’t advise you to touch San Francisco in the money lines, I’d be willing to recommend the 49ers for the spread as I cross my fingers that the old Kaepernick shows up and lead the 49ers to a decent number of scoring drives against Buffalo. After all, if the slumping Jets and Ravens were able to beat Buffalo at the start of the season, a rejuvenated Niners team should be able to at least keep things close here, I believe.

Final Predicted Score: Buffalo 27, San Francisco 21

Writer’s NFL Pick: San Francisco (+8)